Evening in Little Cottonwood Canyon

Tonight Janene and I decided to do something spur of the moment, the way we used to do when we were younger. As soon as I got home from work, we jumped in the car and headed up to Little Cottonwood Canyon. Of course, we grabbed the camera and tripod as we were going out the door. Years ago, it was not unusual for the Phillips Family to head up the canyon to get ice cream cones at the Timp Freeze in Midway, or to catch dinner at the Spring Chicken Inn near Wanship. It was totally wasteful and not eco-friendly, and in many respects it wasn't very smart ( the food at Chick's Cafe in Heber is not what you would call "world-class"), but it was a chance to get Mom out of the kitchen and allowed time for every child to get some other child upset about something. Tonight it was our plan to listen to the debate, take some pictures and have dinner at the Snowbird Lodge.

We took beautiful pictures as the sun set in the canyon and the sky lit up with some pastel pinks. The Lodge Bistro was closed (I must remember that in the off season it is only open on the weekends). Much of the color had already faded from the autumn leaves, but the evening sun made up for some of that. It was worth the trip, if only for our frazzled nerves, and to sooth the frustrations we were experiencing as we listened to the debate/posturing. Why is it that none of those people in the town hall setting asked the question on everybody's mind? You know - the one that says "How did it come to this? - That we only have you two clowns to pick from. Now what are you going to do about that problem for America?"

Ahhh! The beauty of nature, the smell of the oak and maple leaves, tinctured with the occasional pungent aroma of pine and spruce. That , added to the cool breeze and evening light, and a person could almost forget about the plunging value of your 401(k) and the pile of bills our kids will have to pay off. It was well worth the $25 in gas it took to get there. Arghhh!